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Hallmark’s 2026 Countdown to Christmas does not begin on the October 10–11 weekend. It starts Friday, October 16, with three opening-weekend premieres airing Friday through Sunday at 8/7c. Hallmark says the films will stream on Hallmark+ the day after their premieres.
Hallmark’s opening weekend schedule
The 17th annual Countdown to Christmas features 34 original movie premieres, according to Hallmark’s 2026 announcement. The event begins October 16; here are the first three films listed on Hallmark’s holiday schedule.
![HALLMARK HOLIDAY COLLECTION: CHRISTMAS [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TVNzo8BSL._SL160_.jpg)
| Premiere | Movie and cast | Premise |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 16, 2026, 8/7c | ’Tis the Season for Setups Amanda Schull, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven |
Premise not stated in Hallmark’s opening-weekend listing. |
| Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8/7c | Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods, and Khary Payton |
Premise not stated in Hallmark’s opening-weekend listing. |
| Sunday, October 18, 2026, 8/7c | Mr. & Mrs. Christmas Pascale Hutton and Brendan Penny |
Premise not stated in Hallmark’s opening-weekend listing. |
Hallmark lists each premiere as available to stream on Hallmark+ the next day. Streaming availability can vary by territory; check the service’s current listing for your location.
Why the “last new movie” date is wrong
The October 10–11 weekend falls before Hallmark’s announced event start. The network says the 2026 movie lineup kicks off Friday, October 16, and continues as Christmas approaches. The first premiere is ’Tis the Season for Setups—not the season’s final new movie.
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For broader schedule context, TVLine’s September 17 schedule coverage describes new films airing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through December 20, including additional premieres over Thanksgiving weekend. Hallmark’s own schedule is the source for the opening-weekend dates and times.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brand: Punto
- Candace Cameron Bure: 4 Movies Collection (Wm)
- Brand: Hallmark
Rank #4
- Genre: TV Drama
- Number of Discs: 2
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 517
- Rating: NR
Rank #3
Rank #2
- Screenwriter Lucy is hired to write the script for the remake of the beloved holiday movie, His Merry Wife, that was shot on location at the beautiful Biltmore Estate. When she tips over an hourglass during a tour of the estate, she finds herself transported back in time to 1947.
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